LA PORTE COUNTY, IN—During Unity Foundation’s Annual Celebration Luncheon on October 28, staff, board members, and community partners shared highlights from the past year and announced $240,000 in community grants awarded through Unity’s annual Power for Good Community Grant program.

Outgoing Unity President Maggi Spartz opened the program by reflecting on Unity’s 2025 accomplishments and the Foundation’s focus on community betterment projects. She highlighted two major initiatives: the Open the Doors to Housing attainable housing project and NWI Thrive, a regional collaboration among four Northwest Indiana community foundations to enhance connectivity, culture, and wellness through creative placemaking. Both initiatives are supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. through GIFT VIII Implementation Grants.

“Together, these efforts will strengthen and connect La Porte County and transform Northwest Indiana,” said Spartz. “We’re especially proud that Unity was one of only six community foundations to be selected for two grants!”

Unity Foundation Board Member and Grant Committee Chair Laura Francesconi recognized 60 local organizations receiving Power for Good Community Grants, emphasizing the importance of Unity’s donors.

“We appreciate the generous and visionary donors who have created or contributed to our Power for Good Fund and other Community Funds. Their foresight makes these grants—and so many other community projects—possible,” Francesconi said. “Unity has invested over $2.5 million in small grants to La Porte County nonprofits through our Power for Good Community Grant program since its inception.”

The event concluded with a special moment as Spartz welcomed incoming President & CEO Jeri Pat Gabbert to the stage.

“It is truly an honor to serve as the next President & CEO of the Unity Foundation of La Porte County. I am inspired by Unity’s long-standing commitment to collaboration, bringing people and resources together to solve problems and create opportunity,” said Gabbert. “Together, we will continue to grow our impact, ensuring that La Porte County remains a thriving, connected and compassionate community for generations to come.”

Spartz then symbolically passed a baton to Gabbert, welcoming her as Unity’s President & CEO as of November 3, 2025.

The 2025 Power for Good Grant recipients and their funded programs are as follows:

• Advancing Christ’s Kingdom Ministries-Michigan City: ThanksGIVING Turkeys 2025
• Arts in the Park: Summer Concert Series
• Boys & Girls Clubs of La Porte County: Afterschool Ultimate Journey Programming
• Catholic Charities: Safe Haven: Homeless Prevention Program
• Center of Workforce Innovations: Bridging Generations: Intergenerational Mentorship for Workforce Empowerment
• Center Township Trustee-La Porte County: Community Food Boxes
• Citizens Concerned for the Homeless: Food Rescue Initiative Program “FRI” Mobile Food Distribution Event
• Community Food Pantry of Galena, Hudson, Kankakee, Wills Townships, Inc.: Food Pantry Support
• Deliverance & Victory Outreach Ministries: “Soul Food Bistro Inc.” A Nonprofit Comprehensive Job Training Program
• Diamonds and Pearl Mentorship: “HealHER” A Breast Cancer Walk with a Dual Purpose
• Dunebrook: Trauma-Focused Therapy for Child Abuse Victims
• Dunes Arts Foundation: Creative Theatre Arts Program for Safe Harbor Summer Camp Students
• Family Advocates: Exterior Access Renovation
• Fly High Youth Services: Fly High for the Holidays
• HealthLinc: Increasing Literacy in LaPorte County
• Humane Indiana: Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education
• Independent Cat Society: Keeping Up with Kittens: Spay and Neuter Assistance
• Intrepid Phoenix: Fitness for Recovery from Substance Use Disorder
• Jack and Shirley Lubeznik Center for the Arts: Activating Neighborhoods through the Arts
• Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana: JA Elementary Programming: Michigan City Area Schools
• La Porte County Drug Free Partnership: Strategic Outreach to Address Mental Health and Substance Use Disparities Among Underserved Groups
• La Porte County EMS: La Porte County EMS CO Meter Project
• La Porte County Family YMCA: “NextGen Y” Junior Staff & Mentoring Program
• La Porte County Meals on Wheels: Blizzard Box Bonanza 9
• La Porte County Symphony Orchestra: Ellis Island: Dream of America
• La Porte High School: Competitive Workforce Development Through Robotics
• LaPorte County Juvenile Services Center: NOVA Program Learning Space Upgrade
• LaPorte Fire Department: LaPorte Fire Department Training Center Resources
• Laporte Lake Association: Pine & Stone Lake Invasive Milfoil Weed Treatments
• Leadership La Porte County: High School Program
• MAKS CORP: Laporte County Emergency Request/Safety Items Program
• Michigan City Art League: Art Opportunities for La Porte County Residents
• Michigan City High School: “Future Wolves” Elementary Sports Program
• Michigan City Holiday Meals: Free Holiday Meals
• Michigan City Police Department: Strengthening Community Resilience Through Direct Client Support
• Michigan City Public Library: Ozobots for Creative Coding in Children’s Makerspace
• Nest Community Shelter: Nest Community Shelter La Porte Expansion & Capacity-Building
• New Hope Missionary Baptist Church: New Hope Food Pantry
• New Prairie High School: Mathematics at Work
• Open Door Adolescent Health Center: School-based Health & Mental Health Clinic
• The Pax Center: The Pax Gardens
• REAL Services, Inc.: Food for Senior Nutrition Program
• Reins Of Life, Inc.: Equine-Assisted Programs for People with Disabilities
• A Rosie Place for Children: Magical Sleepover Adventures for Medically Fragile Children in La Porte County
• Sacred Heart Food Pantry at St. Mary: Feeding the Poor and Needy in an Uncertain Time
• Safe Harbor Nurturing Minds: Safe Harbor Summer STEAM Camp 2026
• The Salvation Army of LaPorte Indiana: Client Choice Food Pantry
• The Salvation Army of Michigan City: Weekend Backpack Feeding Program
• Service League of Michigan City: Equipment Inventory Additions
• The Social and Learning Institute: Dunes to You: Outdoor Learning for All Abilities
• Soul Steppers Drill Team, Inc.: Ambassadors Marching to Always Remember
• South Central Jr. Sr. High School: Classroom Computer System Updates
• Stepping Stone Shelter for Women: Basic Needs and Food Initiative
• Swanson Center: Outreach to Homeless Individuals in LaPorte County
• Trinity Episcopal Church: Trinity Church Community Food Pantry
• United Way of LaPorte County: Veterans Stand Down Event
• We All in Recovery Inc.: Recovery Cafe
• Westville Elementary: Young Authors Event
• Women’s Care Center, Inc.: Expanding Access to Critical Services for Moms and Babies
• Youth Service Bureau of LaPorte County: School Buddies

The following funds provided additional support for this year’s grants: African American Empowerment Fund, Barry C. Dulyea Arts Fund for Children, Charles Westcott Youth Fund, Glick Foundation Fund for the City of La Porte, The Graduates of Isaac C. Elston High School Education Support Fund, Honor Our Military Fund, Jeanette Popp Kent Mental Health Fund, Jerry Peters Memorial Fund, John A. and Dorothy Sieb Carstens Fund, Kay Franklin Commemorative Fund, La Porte County Educational Advancement Fund, La Porte County Mental Health Fund, Lorraine Gehrke Orlowski Fund for Housing & Homelessness, Polad Animal Care Endowment Fund, Ulery Family Fund, Unity Foundation Literacy Fund, and Womens Well Being Fund.